The Bharat bandh called by Samyukt Kisan Morcha marking four months of protests across the country to demand rollback of three contentious farm laws evoked lukewarm response in the state capital and adjoining areas owing to prohibitory orders by the district administration in the run up to the event.
The streets were less congested compared with other days but private vehicles and autos plied normally with markets, commercial establishments and banks conducting their usual operations.
At around 10 am in the morning, bandh supporters from different outfits backed by Left parties staged a symbolic protest march from Albert Ekka chowk to Sujata chowk for about an hour to press for their demands in violation of the prohibitory orders imposed by the district administration. However, there have been no reports of any formal arrests so far. On the other hand, protesters also blocked roads and staged protests in some rural pockets of the district to enforce the bandh.
Police had erected barricades at strategic points since Thursday night at key junctions both in the city and across the district after district administration announced enforcement of section 144 under section CrPc banning assembling of five or more persons, carrying arms among others prohibiting mass gathering.
General secretary of CITU Prakash Viplav claimed the bandh was successful.
“Farmers of the country are tirelessly protesting the centre's black laws since the last four months and today’s protest too was successful. Till the time, the government of India doesn’t take back the anti-farmer laws, farmers will continue to fight for their genuine demands,” he said.
State convenor of Jharkhand Rajya Kisan Sangharsh Samanvaya Samiti (JRKSSS) Sufal Mahto said they had completely blocked the Bundu-Silli state highway from 6am till 6pm.
“Everyone cooperated with the bandh, the issue for which country’s farmers are fighting concerns every citizen,” he said.
Activists of different left parties under the banner of Joint Left Front demonstrate and block the Randhir Verma Chowk in Dhanbad during the Bharat Bandh on Friday.. Gautam Dey
Mixed response in Dhanbad
Urban areas almost remained unaffected due to the strike but the remote rural areas like Topchanchi, Tundi and Nirsa faced some road blockades.
Over 100 supporters at Topchanchi market blocked the National Highway for about half an hour under the banner of Topchani Kisan Sabha.
A similar protest was carried out in Nirsa where protesters blocked Maithon Sahebganj road for around half an hour that disrupted vehicular traffic.
In the main town, over 100 activists of joint front of different left parties including CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML), Marxist Coordination Committee and All India Forward Bloc led by district president of Marxist Coordination Committee, Hari Prasad Pappu took out a rally from Jila Parishad Ground of Dhanbad which reached near Dharna site of Randhir Verma Chowk where it culminated into a meeting.
The participants of the dharna were shouting slogans like Mazdor-kisan- Chhatra-Naujawan-Mahile ekta zindabad; desh ke kisano tum aage badho ham tumhare Saath hai.
